Despite Scott’s plea, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts trotted out the all-righty lineup against losing record (5-8), left-handed Gio Gonzalez. Missing today were Utley, Seager and Pederson. Yasiel Puig got the start in CF and Scott Van Slyke in RF. Charlie Culberson was brought up to spot the still-ailing Corey Seager.
In the end, Roberts’ strategy was empty.
1st inning
Nationals
A Bryce Harper two run home run opened the scoring. 2-0
2nd inning
Dodgers
Charlie Culberson knocked in Scott Van Slyke to get the Dodgers on the board. 2-1
Watch that highlight twice. It’s the only one the Dodgers have today.
4th inning Nationals 2-1
Nationals
1,2,3 inning. At this point, Norris had settled down and retired 10 in a row.
5th inning Nationals 2-1
Nationals
Norris was still looking strong, but with two out, he threw a mistake pitch that Ben Revere quickly turned into a solo home run. 3-1
Norris then proceeded, with two strikes, to give up another homer – this time to former Dodger, Jayson Werth.
6th inning Nationals 4-1
Dodgers
Second 1,2,3 inning in a row.
Nationals
Bud Norris was done after Wilson Ramos just missed hitting a home run, which ended up as an RBI double. 5-1
Norris out. Louis Coleman in, with no outs.
Coleman gave up an RBI triple. 6-1
Luis Avilan in. 7-1 by the end of this endless inning.
7th inning Nationals 7-1
Dodgers
They just thrashed about like a dying animal on the side of the road. Better not to look.
Nationals
On the bright side – no runs this time!
8th inning Nationals 7-1
Dodgers
Howie Kendrick showed a pulse by smacking a double. The Dodgers left him there.
Nationals
J.P. Howell in.
Quess what? It’s another home run! 8-1
9th inning Nationals 8-1
Dodgers
The thrashing mercifully stopped. Move along.
Dodgers lose 8-1
After the first inning, Bud Norris kept the Nationals’ bats quiet. He owned the corners with some nasty stuff.
That was, until Revere and Werth deposited back to back homers. We didn’t know it, but it was “game over” from that point.
Or was it “game over” from the start, when Roberts penciled in the faux all-righty line up. Faux all-righty because Adrian Gonzalez played. Faux offense because Joc Pederson, fresh off a two RBI night, did not.
Today’s Bright spot: Howie Kendrick quietly keeping his hitting streak alive. Now at 12.
Bud Norris, now holding a losing 5-8 recored like Gio had, went 5 innings with 7 hits, 6 runs, 3 HR’s (Ouch!), 1 walk, 8 K’s. ERA 4.53
Team with RISP: 1 for 5 Let’s hear it once again for that all-righty line up!
Oscar Martinez
I was born in the shadow of Dodger Stadium and immediately drenched in Dodger Blue. Chavez Ravine is my baseball cathedral, Vin Scully was the golden voice of summer all my life, and Tommy Lasorda remains the greatest Dodgers manager ever. My favorite things are coffee, beer, and the Dodgers beating the Giants. I also blog about my baseball card hobby at All Trade Bait, All the Time.
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And no one is surprised.
Scott
Why wouldn’t Roberts use this almost all rightie line up?
That would be the sane thing to do.
I guess you exchange a loss for a day off.
Badger
I guess this proves that our minor league system isn’t better, then the Giants.
But I do give Culberson credit, because after Puig struck himself out, with runners in scoring position, Culberson was able to hit in the only run tonight, for the Dodgers.
Oscar
It is the almost all rightie platoon line up.
And our two regular players, who hit rightie, don’t hit lefties well.
Puig 229 Turner under 200, against leftie pitchers.
Can anyone here play this game?
Meanwhile, tonight for OKC: Jose DeLeon 8ip, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 bb, 10k, 105 pitches
He’s ready to be called up
It’s my opinion those 105 pitches should have been thrown in D.C..
Yes, it’s time he pitched at the Major League level. For what team? Stand by.
Badger
I think you may be right.
Deleon might have what Urias doesn’t have, because he is a little older.
I’m afraid they are not going to risk letting him get knocked around in his ML debut because it would diminish his trade value. Got to have more Tampa guys on the Drew Crew.
2-3 so far in this “second half”.
Oh well good luck to the kid today!
I go away for a lil over a week to be my brother’s wing man at Stanford for a helluva rough surgery and I come back to utter medical chaos affecting my pitching staff…
We are in a vulnerable position and please FO don’t sell the farm… I wanted the NLW crown bad, but I have to be a realist.. Getting one ace or big bat doesn’t remedy the situation… Good luck Julio and welcome Deleon… Lets see what we got and fight on…
P.S. Why now??? When the Midgets are trying to give it away!!!
Outside of Gordon and Kemp, it s a lineup devoid of speed. It could have decent power, but after Kemp, that s no lock either. There are plenty of maybes with this group, but that could prove a season s theme.